HOLLYWOOD SPEAKS AT THE ADLER Welcomes Bill Straus, 11/4

The Stella Adler Academy & Theatre presents its Hollywood Speaks at the Adler series, An Evening With Executive Producer & Principle of Bridge Independent, Bill Straus (formally of New Line Cinema), as the special guest on November 4th, 2015, at 8:00 pm (The Stella Adler Theatre 6773 Hollywood Blvd. 2nd Floor, 90028). ONE EVENING ONLY. More Info: www.stellaadler-la.com Admission is Free (100% of All Donations go to benefit The Stella Adler Academy Scholarship Program.)

After working with director John Singleton, a college classmate, on the groundbreaking film Boyz 'N the Hood, BILL STRAUS sold his original screenplay The Clown Prince to TriStar Pictures. Years later he would get his Masters degree from USC's Peter Stark Producing Program. A Stark summer internship at New Line Cinema turned into a story department position and he eventually worked his way up to the executive ranks.

After leaving New Line, Straus set up his own shingle with a deal at Sony Pictures-based Circle of Confusion. His first film, The Man, starring Sam Jackson and Eugene Levy was released in 2005. He also would serve as a producer on Weapons starring Nick Cannon and Paul Dano and Red starring Brian Cox, both of which were Sundance Film Festival selections in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Straus also produced The Last Rites of Joe May with The Steppenwolf Theatre's film company, which starred the late Dennis Farina and was listed as one of Roger Ebert's Best Films of the Year in 2011. Bill's most recent film Straight Outta Compton, a biopic of the rap group NWA, released by Universal Pictures in August, 2015.

Straus returned to his hometown Brooklyn, NY in 2011 and moved into domestic sales of independent films. He has sold films out of Sundance, Berlin, Toronto, SXSW and many other major festivals and found a home for the vast majority of his clients' titles. Bill's new company Bridge Independent will continue to focus on high-end festival fare and exciting new voices.

"HOLLYWOOD SPEAKS AT THE ADLER-LA" is an on-going series that is open to the public and is part of The Stella Adler Academy & Theatre Outreach Program. Stella Adler Academy & Theatre is a non-profit organization located at 6773 Hollywood Blvd., 2nd Floor, Hollywood, CA. 90028. For info: 323.465.4446 Admission is Free (100% of All Donations will go to benefit The Stella Adler Academy Scholarship Program.)